TRANSPORT ACTION NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2015 Ontario Report Transport Action Ontario

In This Issue: Op-ed analysis ➢ Greg Gormick takes a VIA’s HFR scheme: good idea, critical look at VIA’s plan for bad route, lots of unanswered the -Ottawa- questions triangle; first of a two-part by Greg Gormick series (pp. 1, 2-3) What’s so wrong with VIA’s proposal to ➢ expand its track ownership in the Quebec- High performance rail Windsor Corridor in order to launch what it (HPR), now being imple- describes as high-frequency rail (HFR) service? mented across the U.S., is As a concept, there’s absolutely nothing Next High Performance Rail system to open in North America: All Aboard explained (p. 4) wrong with it. Giving VIA’s trains a route of Florida, Miami-West Palm Beach- ➢ Update on All Aboard their own on which to gallop at 110 mph without Orlando. Drawing of the Ft.Lauderdale freight interference and without investing fur- station, T-shaped with distinctive Florida, the newest U.S. example ther in privately-owned railway infrastructure V-columns and glassed-in spaces, of high performance rail (pp. 4-5) sounds ideal. It’s especially compelling when you limited to two tracks centre platform. ➢ Update on California’s face the fact that VIA’s masters are not likely Story on Page 4. (Rendering: AAF) high speed rail project (p. 5-6) ...continued on PAGE 2 FROM THE PRESIDENT Ministers meeting within 90 days. sector, presumably a significant amount of Presumably the national strategy will the revenue will be directed to this sector, - PETER MIASEK be built on provincial strategies. e.g. public transit or support for low/zero Ontario good Ontario announced more details of emission vehicles. news stories as its proposed Cap and Trade system in In December, Premier Wynne signed 2015 draws to a late November. It will cover most a Memo of Understanding between close sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario to permit As I write this emissions, including petroleum and carbon trading across their respective in the last days of natural gas distributors. The initial cap systems under the Western Climate December, I am will be set at the best estimate of 2017 Initiative (includes California). Full details reflecting on the emissions and will decline at a rate to of the Ontario system will be released in large number of achieve the Province’s 2020 emission early 2016. “interesting” events that have occurred target (15% below 1990 level). Companies Crombie report: Coordinated review of recently relating to Ontario transpor- can purchase emission allowances from Ontario land use plans: In December, the tation. While the ancient Chinese the government through auction, with Crombie advisory panel released its curse warned of “interesting times,” government revenue being reinvested in recommendations on how to amend implying they are negative, most of GHG emission reduction. As and improve the Growth Plan for the these occurrences have been largely transportation is the largest emission ...continued on PAGE 2 positive. They make for a hopeful This Issue’s Table of Contents 2016. Let me summarize some of the recent interesting events: VIA Rail HFR plan: Op-ed analysis by Greg Gormick...... Pages 1, 2 and 3 Progress on climate change: With the What is high performance rail (HPR)?...... Page 4 Paris climate change conference now U.S.A. news: HPR in Florida; HSR in California; ...... Pages 4, 5 and 6 behind us, attention now turns to a GTA freight railway bypass proposal: the “missing link”...... Page 7 new Canadian strategy. Prime Minister Editorial: resolving the transit plan mess in Toronto...... Pages 7 and 8 Trudeau will be convening a First Save VIA on YouTube; TAO contact/membership information...... Page 8

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FROM THE PRESIDENT Introduction of HOT lanes: After first Stouffville corridor to Scarborough City ...continued fom PAGE 1 announcing high occupancy toll (HOT) Centre and Malvern. To be continued… Golden Horseshoe, the Greenbelt Plan, lanes in the 2013 Budget, the Province Official end of BBTCA expansion the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation finally announced more details in project: Although federal Transport Plan, and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. December. A four-year HOT lane pilot Minister Garneau had informally It’s a long report with 87 recommenda- test will commence in the summer of announced in November, via Twitter, tions. Key among these are directing 2016 on a 16 km stretch of the QEW in that the Federal Government would not more development to existing urban Oakville and Burlington. This stretch of reopen the tripartite agreement to areas through intensification and less to road was selected because it has excess enable Toronto Island airport expansion new greenfield areas, increasing the capacity in the current HOV lane. and introduction of jets, there was still density of housing and jobs in new Details are yet to be announced, but will much speculation that Ports Toronto developments, establishing stronger likely involve monthly permits that can (PoTo) would continue the Environ- criteria to control settlement area be purchased for single-occupant mental Assessment and related studies expansion, requiring greater integration vehicles. The first electronic HOT lane and press the expansion case with of infrastructure planning with land use tolls will be installed in 2021on a new Toronto City Council. The final word planning, increasing focused investment stretch of Highway 427 between came in an announcement on December in transit and increasing efforts on Rutherford Rd. and Highway 409. 23 that PoTo was not proceeding with transportation demand management. HOT lanes are controversial. Some further study and the EA would not be The Provincial website states that people decry them as a way for the rich finished. A great Christmas present for the Province will review the advisory to buy their way out of congestion the many groups that have been opposed panel's recommendations and seek (“Lexus Lanes”). However, research in to this project! public input on any proposed the USA has shown that HOT lanes are Best wishes for 2016. ■ Peter Miasek amendments to the various planning acts popular with all sectors of the driving in early 2016. public as they offer a choice. TAO has VIA’s HFR scheme: good idea, Suspension of GTA-West highway plan: no position on HOT lanes, but does bad route, many questions On December 16, the Province support new revenue tools for transit, ...continued fom PAGE 1 announced the suspension of this $4 including road pricing. Storm clouds grow for scarborough to fund a multi-billion-dollar electrified billion highway corridor project, which high-speed rail (HSR) plan. We’ve been subway extension (SSE): As readers know, was slated to be an expressway of up to 6 down that pathway too many times and lanes that would connect Vaughan and despite the negative opinion of virtually every transit expert, including TAO, the results are always negative. Milton. This was a surprise, as the So, as a means of decreasing its project was deep into stage 2 of the Toronto Mayor Tory continues to insist that this subway extension makes sense end-to-end running times and Environmental Assessment (detailed increasing both frequency and on-time route assessment) and the Province had and should proceed. However, storm clouds continue to gather. Toronto’s performance in its Montreal-Ottawa- committed to identifying a preferred Toronto core market, VIA’s corporate Chief Planner has essentially disavowed route by the end of this year. The view is that it needs to get off CN’s ministry said it would be reviewing the the ridership numbers that her department developed back in 2013 that busy Kingston Subdivision and add project over the next few months. The substantially to the limited amount of justified a subway. Rumours abound that reasons cited were “emerging technol- track it already owns at a more ogies and the sharing economy” new ridership modeling, due in early 2016, will show that Tory’s other reasonable cost than HSR. (presumably autonomous vehicles and Following the first tentative Uber), the need for natural heritage signature project, Smart Track, will significantly steal ridership from the SSE. announcement of its alternate HFR protection, including the Greenbelt, and plan in late 2014, VIA began presenting the need to live up to climate change Lastly, the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) has it to business groups and the media commitments. throughout the Quebec-Windsor Cor- launched an appeal to the OMB claiming TAO has been heavily involved with ridor, often tying it to other service this project and provided three that the planning justification for the subway extension is flawed and ridership improvements the corporation says it is submissions expressing concern (on our considering. But one rather important numbers are exaggerated. website). On December 29, the To r o n t o item has been consistently missing from Star came out with an editorial sup- TAO has long opposed the SSE. We have been advocating for “Smart Spur” – these presentations: the route’s details. porting the suspension. So things are It has been presented without any looking promising. To be continued… a new branch line for GO EMU trains that would run from the existing geographic specifics, relying on unsub- stantiated statements about the

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existence of abandoned or dormant rail annually, which is more than three 110-mph diesel-powered service to an corridors that can be easily turned into times the ridership handled in 2014 on electrified 125-mph operation, boosting freight-free VIA track segments. the individual routes that form the the cost to $4 billion. A change this When asked where these potential Montreal-Ottawa-Toronto triangle. fundamental only undermines the passenger-only routes are, VIA’s The expectation of a ridership increase plan’s credibility further. response has been silence. of this magnitude is highly optimistic, While it would be nice to be able However, sources associated with especially given the level of air, bus and to endorse VIA’s HFR proposal on the the HFR project have been more automotive competition throughout basis of its worthy objective, its forthcoming. The picture they’ve the Quebec-Windsor Corridor. shifting and unsubstantiated details painted is, to put it mildly, questionable. As for the HFR trainsets, VIA make it too reminiscent of other Westbound from Montreal Central estimates these would cost $1 billion long-term dream schemes the Station, the proposed HFR route holds and would be publicly funded. They corporation has announced and never no surprises and no need for concern. would only be ordered after the been able to deliver. By failing to VIA would continue to use CN’s dedicated track plan is locked down address fiscal, political and operational Montreal and Kingston subdivisions to because, according to VIA, the trains realities of their time, each of those reach the eastern end of its own ex-CN have to be “fitted” carefully to the new previous plans tied up funding and track just north of Coteau, Quebec. With infrastructure. This ignores the fact managerial attention that would have upgrading, VIA’s former CN Alexandria, that Amtrak already operates several been better applied to more practical Beachburg and Smiths Falls subdivisions conventional, diesel-hauled trains at plans that would have improved would provide the HFR route as far as 110 mph and that VIA’s LRC rolling service, ridership and revenue within a Ottawa and Smiths Falls. It’s at this point stock is, in fact, designed for 125-mph reasonable time span. that the whole idea starts to go wonky. service. Nonetheless, VIA’s HFR proposal Branching off the current Ottawa- The concept of giving VIA more should not be dismissed out of hand. Brockville-Toronto route, VIA’s HFR freight-free infrastructure is undeniably At its core, the basic concept of trains would use a new track connection attractive, but what has so far been put separating passenger and freight traffic to reach CP’s Montreal-Toronto freight on the table doesn’t make a compelling to the maximum extent possible is main line and then parallel it for 15.5 case for such a momentous and valid; it’s the route and aspects of the miles to Glen Tay. Here, the new VIA expensive leap. At the very least, some plan’s implementation that are flawed. line would veer off on the abandoned questions need to be asked and answered Furthermore, even though what portion of the CP Havelock Subdi- before VIA’s bandwagon rolls any VIA has offered up is not endorsable in vision, with the 92 miles of missing further. The most basic one is whether its current state, the corporation track rebuilt on what is now a segment service would continue to be provided to deserves some credit for keeping the of the Trans- Trail. From Kingston, Belleville and other high- issue of improved rail passenger service Havelock west, VIA’s tracks would be on volume points on the CN-owned in the news for several months. That CP freight rights-of-way through lakeshore route, which received more can only assist in triggering the public Peterborough to Leaside, then down the than $400 million in upgrading under debate that needs to occur if VIA is Don Valley to over the VIA’s 2007-2012 Capital Investment going to receive the serious attention it dormant ex-CP line owned by . Project. requires from the new government. In total, the HFR project would Stung by the criticism of the HFR Rather than just dismissing VIA’s consist of 366 route miles, of which more proposal that I ventured in The VIA proposal, it will be more productive if than 200 miles would be new to VIA and 1-4-10 Plan, VIA privately responded by we ask if there are steps that can be 107 miles would be track previously saying I misunderstood their plan. The taken to incrementally convert it into a purchased from CN. Excluding motive key point made was that the HFR realistic and affordable plan to power and rolling stock, VIA originally service through Peterborough would transform the Quebec-Windsor pegged the cost at $2 billion, which it generate enough profit to cross- Corridor into a high-performance expects private-sector investors to fund. subsidize the continuation of “some” travel option. Does the basic This funding is predicated on VIA’s service on the lakeshore. That sounds dedicated track concept have a chance assertion that the HFR service would be nice, but since no data has been of succeeding in another form? profitable enough to deliver a double- produced to substantiate this claim, it’s Those are questions to be explored digit return on investment for its difficult to accept. in my next column. private-sector partners. Equally perplexing have been © 2015 by Greg Gormick VIA maintains this plan would recent press reports indicating the attract about eight million passengers HFR scheme has morphed from a

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alignment Cocoa-Orlando, with FRA What is high performance Regional service south to Richmond and other points in eastern Virginia permission pending on this segment. rail (HPR)? (8 roundtrips), the New York-Albany/ November 10, AAF unveiled its new HPR is frequent and fast intercity Rensselaer portion of the Empire brand name of “Brightline” for the higher rail service that maximizes the use of Corridor (11 roundtrips), and both the speed service. There will be 16 trains a existing routes and infrastructure. Capitol Corridor and Pacific Surf- day (hourly) in each direction making the While offered as a high-quality service liner services in California which offer 240 mile trip in less than three hours end in a corridor between cities, its full close to hourly service over their most to end. The current estimated cost of success also depends on the delivery of popular route segments. the project is $3 billion. Except for the a multimodal network that integrates As well, Amtrak’s Hiawatha Cocoa-Orlando alignment, AAF uses the improved rail services with urban Service between Chicago and FEC right-of-way requiring no new land transit and regional bus lines to pro- Milwaukee provides seven roundtrips acquisition. vide the "first and last mile" portions daily, although only at a maximum of Strong NIMBY opposition to AAF of a traveler's journey. 79 mph. Amtrak also has stretches developed along the Treasure Coast As a general rule, HPR trains have of 110-mph track on its Chicago- portion of its route, but opponents were top speeds in the range of 128 to 200 St.Louis and Chicago-Detroit routes, unable to stop the project. AAF cleared kph (80 to 125 mph), with a frequency but not with many frequencies. Both a final major hurdle when, on August 4, of at least six trains in each direction of these corridors are being upgraded 2015, the Florida Development Finance and rising to hourly service or better. now to provide more frequencies and Corporation (FDFC) approved the HPR should not be thought of as longer stretches of 110-mph railroad’s request to issue $1.75 billion in second-rate compared to high-speed operation. lower interest tax-exempt private rail (HSR). Rather, a fully mature In Canada, VIA operates eight activity bonds (PABs). AAF claims that passenger rail system requires both HSR weekday Toronto-Ottawa roundtrips the Brightline project does not require and HPR to be a successful alternative and six on both the Toronto-Montreal government funding. But the bond tax to driving and flying throughout a and Montreal-Ottawa runs, with exemption means an indirect subsidy by region. In most cases overseas, HPR stretches of 160 kph running on all the federal government. The PABs will preceded the building of HSR. three. Service on these routes has replace a previous $405 million short-term In North America, the almost been unreliable with very frequent bond issued at a 12% interest rate return. complete demise of passenger rail lateness due to freight interference on As a result of the FDFC decision, following World War II has led to the CN-owned track segments. ■ opponents took the FDFC to court but political and economic interests that failed in their attempt to stop the sale have blocked revitalization and of PABs. Court documents revealed expansion of passenger rail, with HSR U.S. News that AAF is planning a range of fares being a particular target because of its from a low of $11 for a one-way coach high costs and civil engineering re- HIGH PERFORMANCE RAIL fare Miami-Ft.Lauderdale, to a high of quirements. $143 for a one-way business class fare Under the Obama administration All Aboard Florida update Miami-Orlando. A study for AAF fixed in the U.S., HPR has made significant All Aboad Florida (AAF) is a high the size of the travel market between progress. This can be traced back to performance rail passenger project of cities to be served by Brightline at 110 Penn Central’s January 1969 launch of the Florida East Coast (FEC) railroad. million intercity trips annually, mainly Metroliner service on the Northeast The railway will upgrade its track for up by auto. AAF is counting on shifting Corridor (NEC) between New York to 110 mph (176 kph) running between roughly 10% of this market to rail, City and Washington, DC. In 2000, Miami, Ft.Lauderdale, West Palm beginning with one million annual riders the Metroliners were superceded by Beach, and Cocoa, with new track to be in 2017, to 3 million in 2018 and 5.35 Amtrak’s Acela service between built from there to the Orlando million by 2020. Opponents discount Boston, New York and Washington. International Airport, this new track the fare and ridership numbers, claiming Amtrak’s Keystone service also fits the allowing a 125 mph (200 kph) top speed. that Brightline will never cover its costs HPR category, with 10 New York- The property for the 22 miles (35 km) of and will eventually be dumped on state Philadelphia-Harrisburg roundtrips. new track along the BeachLine Express- and local governments. In terms of frequency, but not way was acquired in July of 2013. All AAF has already ordered rail cars necessarily top speed, the emerging environmental requirements have been and locomotives from Siemens, the first HPR operations in the U.S. are the met by AAF, except for the new track train set to be received this coming extension of Amtrak's Northeast summer for testing. Service is to start

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mid-2017 Miami-West Palm Beach, with accounting for roughly 40% of California's heavily populated, and much less full service to Orlando to start later in carbon emissions. HSR receives 25% of earthquake-prone, east side of the Valley, 2017. Track upgrading is well underway. cap-and- trade annual revenues, this fiscal picking up such cities as Fresno and A second track is being added on the year amounting to $550 million. Bakersfield (see map on this page). FEC main line between Miami and Construction of three segments of Similarly, the high speed line will enter Cocoa. Lift bridges need upgrading as HSR is now underway in the Central the Los Angeles area via the Tehachapi do the more than 300 grade crossing on Valley totalling 116 miles (184km). T h e Pass, Palmdale, and Santa Clarita, with the route. Positive train control is being contractor for the initial 29 miles from its initial terminal at the Burbank installed. near Madera to Fresno was announced Airport 12 miles (19 km) short of Los AAF is paying special attention to last January. The contractor for the Angeles Union Station. Threading HSR through populated building attractive stations in the second 65 miles from Fresno to near the county line between Tulare and Kern areas is bound to bring controversy. The downtowns of Miami, Ft.Lauderdale, CHSRA is now in the process of and West Palm Beach. At the latter two Counties was announced in July. A third determining the route south of stations, space limitations and ground 22 mile segment that takes the route just to the north of Bakersfield was announced Bakersfield and it is facing opposition to water conditions require station areas to its preferred route in places such as the be built above track level. In Miami, to October 6. The first segment is valued at $985 million with completion in 2017, the Antelope Valley (Palmdale) and the accommodate the downtown street grid, eastern side of the San Fernando Valley. Miami Central will have elevated track. second at $1.2 billion to be done by 2018, and the third at $450 million to be finished There is a call to place the rail line in a With V-shaped columns holding up tunnel between Palmdale and Burbank. the glass-enclosed spaces of its stations, by 2019. In the near term this infrastruc- ture will not be electrified. It will be CHSRA will now do some deep drilling AAF stations will stand out as beacons in a portion of the San Gabriel drawing everyone's attention on the city available for Amtrak's San Joaquin service. Thus, the cost for basic civil engineering Mountains to explore soil and rock skylines. FEC has extensive land holdings conditions and thus the feasibility and design and construction is about $22.7 in downtown Miami dating back to the cost of the tunnel option. days it formerly offered scheduled million/mile ($14.2 million/km) for these ...continued on PAGE 6 passenger trains. These lands are now also three initials HSR seg- being developed in conjunction with the ments. HSR is on all new new Miami station. AAF's station at alignments with the Orlando, as previously mentioned, is at property needed often the Orlando airport and it is being built requiring the use of by the airport authority as an intermodal eminent domain to hub. It is hoped that the new commuter acquire, a time-consuming rail line in Orlando will be extended to process. this location. Miami's A dispute with agency has approved extending its Bakersfield was recently commuter rail to Miami's AAF station, settled with the CHRSA though the necessary track work for this agreeing to work with project is not yet funded. ■ the city to route its high speed line through the HIGH SPEED RAIL city center where there is to be station. California HSR update In considering how The California High Speed Rail its high speed line would Authority (CHSRA) has so far traverse the Central successfully defeated law suits to prevent Va l l e y, o n e r o u t e it from using Proposition 1A (2008) considered was following bonds amounting to $9 billion to build the Highway I-5 corridor. HSR. Also, CHSRA now has a new This would have been stable funding source as state legislation the shortest route, one recently passed to create a cap-and-trade that travels the mostly program to curb CO2 emissions. This desert west side of the year, transportation fuels became subject to Valley. This route was cap-and- trade, this source alone discarded in favour of a route along the more

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California HSR update recent attempts by China to build railways Amtrak agreed to split the cost of ...continued from PAGE 5 in Mexico and Brazil have not progressed. building two additional rail tunnels CHSRA's entrance into San XpressWest has been in negotiations under the Hudson River at New York Francisco is further advanced than into with the CHSRA because it is planning City. The new tunnels and adjacent Los Angeles. Caltrain, which operates to bring its trains into Los Angeles using track and bridges will cost $20 billion. commuter rail service between San the CHSRA's HSR route from Palmdale The two existing tunnels, built between 1904 and 1908 carry Amtrak trains Francisco and San Jose (51 miles/82km), into LA. The consortium would have to build a connection between Victorville between Washington DC, New York and has issued requests for proposals for Boston. They are also heavily used by NJ electrification in February, and for and Palmdale to do this, a track segment for which environmental assessment and Transit commuter trains. The two new vehicles in August. The cost of tunnels will not only add much needed electrification is $1.5B and a contractor is other permits have yet to be obtained. In planning its San Francisco-LA high capacity to and from Penn Station in supposed to be selected by the end of New York, but also eventually permit this year. Installation of Positive Train speed train line, CHSRA has opted not to build long tunnels. It appears that the upgrading of the older tunnels without Control signalling has been underway jeopardizing the flow of trains in this concern is the potential for damage due to since 2013. The Advanced Signalling strategic corridor. The older tunnels System is expected to be completed this earthquakes. In such an event the repair were damaged by Hurricane Sandy in year at a cost of $231 million. Construc- and rebuilding of a tunnel could take 2012 and need rehabilitation. The Port tion of a new downtown San Francisco many months, shutting down or badly Authority of New York and New Jersey Transbay Transit Center started in 2010 crippling a high speed train service. The will create a subsidiary that will and will be completed in 2017, mainly to one place now under study for a tunnel, undertake the construction. The next serve buses crossing the Oakland Bay between Palmdale and Burbank under the step is fundraising, with the states of Bridge into San Francisco. Space has San Gabriel range, has the protection of New York and New Jersey in for $5 been left in this development for the 1.3 an existing surface Metrolink commuter billion each. mile extension of Caltrain commuter rail, rail line, originally the Southern Pacific Amtrak funding secured. Suppor- and the HSR, from the present station at Railroad's route into LA from the Central ters of Amtrak in the U.S. have long 4th and King to the Transbay Center, a Va l l e y (Bakersfield-Lancaster-Palmdale- advocated dedicated funding for this project as yet unfunded. Full electrified Burbank-LA). We'll have to wait and see country’s national passenger railway and HSR between San Francisco and LA, 488 what the CHSRA will ultimately do to lamented the annual appropriation miles (781km), is to open in 2029. reach LA from Palmdale. ■ struggles that have kept Amtrak going. Since 2007, private investors have After a nine-month process, both houses been busy planning to build HSR Other U.S. news of Congress finally came to an agreement between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, NV, Positive Train Control (PTC). on a transportation funding bill passed the project known as the XpressWest. After a serious commuter/freight train and signed by the President in early It has slowly obtained all the permits collision in 2008 in Chatsworth, CA, December. The bill passed is called rquired for the project between the U.S. Congress mandated PTC FAST, the Fix America’s Surface Transportation Act. It funds roads, Victorville, CA and Las Vegas. However, installation on railway lines carrying bridges, public transit, and railroad promoters have not been able to obtain hazardous goods and passenger trains. transportation. What’s different is that the $5B necessary to construct this line. The control system stops trains that Amtrak was included in this act which is This project made news in September violate signals. A deadline of 2015 was five years in duration. when it was announced that XpressWest set for installation. Unable to meet the Amtrak is allotted $1.39 billion had joined forces with China's HSR deadline, U.S. railways asked for an annually, $288.5 million as an operating exporting consortium, the consortium extension and threatened to shut down grant and $1.1 billion in capital agreeing to help finance and construct otherwise. In late October, Congress spending. FAST provides annually for this HSR project. extended the deadline to 2018. While an array of other rail and rail safety Observers see the XpressWest/ PTC has been recommended by groups. Rail advocates are pleased with China deal as the foot-in-the-door for Canada’s Transportation Safety Board an annual grant of $20 million for the export of China's considerable HSR for parts of our rail system, no federal passenger train restorations. Already expertise to North America. However, action has ever been taken here to municipalities on the eastern Gulf there are unanswered questions. For implement this life-saving technology. coast are calling for the extension of example, when China has built railways Two new rail tunnels under the Amtrak’s Sunset Limited from New elsewhere, they have brought in labour Hudson River. Mid-November, the Orleans to Jacksonville and Orlando, from China for construction. This may states of New York and New Jersey, the FL, a train service that was lost in 2005 not be acceptable in the U.S. Several U.S. Dept. of Transportation, and after Hurricane Katrina. ■

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trains. GO has been planning to construct the necessary extra track by New railway freight bypass widening the existing corridors, mostly through Brampton and Milton. proposed for the GTA Expanding track, especially through The cities of Mississauga, Cam- Brampton on the Georgetown line, bridge, Toronto, and Milton commis- would require major land acquisition in sioned IBI Group to study a freight downtown Brampton. Expansion of railway bypass that would separate most enough extra track in Milton and freight and passenger train movements Brampton for both freight and GO in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). trains is in itself a $5 billion project. Just Released August 28 and entitled in time, the "missing link" alternative is a "Feasibility Study and Business Case of better solution as it deals with freight Constructing the Missing Link," the and passenger train conflicts not just on proposal would give CP freight access to Toronto region's west side, but for the the existing CN freight bypass at Milton, whole of the region, has much less land this bypass running north of the City of take in built up areas, also provides for Toronto just above Steeles Avenue, to GO electrification, and, as an important Pickering where CP and CN have track added benefit, removes CP freight trains heading east towards Montreal. CN's from its east-west route across Toronto bypass was built in the 1960s to serve its north of Dupont Avenue, and through new freight yard at Concord north of Rosedale and across much of Scarborough. Toronto. Using this bypass, CP freight TAO has long supported the Editorial: Resolving the transit trains would access the CP’s main yard at concept of a combined CN-CP freight planning mess in Toronto Agincourt in northeast Scarborough by a by-pass as proposed in the "missing link" new connection where the CN now study. Especially appealing is an early Sensible transit planning seems to crosses the CP route to Peterborough construction of a railway bridge at have been sidetracked in Toronto. and Havelock. "Missing link" refers to Bramalea that would allow GO and VIA After sidelining former mayor Ford’s the most expensive element of the to increase train service to Guelph, subway mania, city council then project, entirely new track connecting Kitchener, Stratford, St.Marys and replaced the already province-funded CP's Milton line, along the Highway 407 London. TAO has met twice with conversion of the Scarborough RT to a corridor, to Bramalea where it would join Mississauga technical staff to discuss three station Scarborough subway on a the existing CN bypass route after details of the IBI report. We were different alignment. In the meantime, passing over a bridge above CN's pleased to hear that Minister Del Duca is the province announced its plan to Georgetown line to Kitchener. This taking the idea seriously and has directed electrify GO’s commuter rail system stretch of new track and bridge and Metrolinx to study it. Initial meeting for all-day two-way service calling it other pieces of connecting track and with CN and CP have apparently been Regional Express Rail (RER). Then bridges of the proposal altogether would satisfactory. John Tory, in his campaign for mayor cost an estimated $5.5 billion. The cities that have backed the (2014), announced he would build a This project has been in the media missing link feasibility concept plan are SmartTrack “surface subway” following recently. The Mississauga News carried mindful that the Ontario and federal GO’s Stouffville line in Scarborough to two stories, one on September 10 follow- governments budgets are under GO’s Lakeshore East line, then ing Mississauga's city council meeting preparation. The feds have indicated through Union Station out on GO’s (Sept. 9) that considered the IBI report, they may have funding for major rail Georgetown line to Mt.Dennis where and another published on December 19. infrastructure. Missing link supporters it would diverge westward onto The sponsoring cities all wish to see would like to see a GTA freight bypass Eglinton to the Airport Corporate all-day two-way GO train service that unlocks the region's commuter/ Centre (ACC). This $8b project would established in the GTHA sooner rather regional passenger train potential, and be funded with new tax revenues from than later. GO's Regional Express Rail is TAO would add, intercity passenger rail the increased property values of new in part delayed because CN and CP are as an urgent public infrastructure development along the line. asking for additional track where GO investment. This GTA freight bypass is But what of the congestion on the would operate its frequent regional one of the essential transportation Yonge subway, especially at trains. CN is opposed to electrification projects of our time for the Greater Bloor-Yonge where the Bloor-Danforth on any track used by its long freight Golden Horseshoe. ■ ...continued on PAGE 8

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Editorial ...continued fom PAGE 7 Much study but no money or detailed Save VIA on YouTube engineering. subway riders use the Yonge line to go Another confusing area is fares. further downtown. For many years a Save VIA YouTube “ads” ask SmartTrack was advertised by Mayor tough questions of our elected (RL) subway has been seen Tory as having TTC fares. How does as a solution to this problem, a subway that reconcile with Metrolinx and representatives connecting with the Bloor-Danforth GO’s plans, which likely involve As part of its continuing efforts to line at Pape, running south to King premium fares and fare by distance? bring improved intercity passenger rail to Street, then westward past Yonge. RL Southwestern Ontario, Save VIA of So, given that RER is going St.Marys has prepared three video “ads” has been part of Metrolinx’s Big Move forward, is SmartTrack really needed? plan and still is. that can now be seen on YouTube. Links Given that the Stouffville line will be are not yet on the group’s website but What is there here that does not electrified and become RER, which is the short videos may be accessed as make sense? For starters, the close to being a subway-style follows: go to www.youtube.com; type Scarborough subway is estimated to operation, is the Scarborough subway into the search box at the top of the cost $3.6 billion. Evidence keeps extension really needed? Does a screen “Save VIA.” Open the three mounting that it will have poor subway to the ACC make sense when short videos labeled as follows: ridership and that an LRT would better the Eglinton LRT can serve this route? >>Save VIA - Clearing the Tracks for VIA serve the transit needs of this low How then to serve old Toronto’s west >>Save VIA - Modern Passenger Trains for a Modern Canada density area. Worse, with SmartTrack side where residents have been asking (or RER) which would also serve this >>SAVE VIA - An Expensive Train for a long time for more local stops on Robbery ■ part of Scarborough, the need for the the GO Georgetown line and would Scarborough subway is further prefer TTC fares and easy transfers to diminished. MEMBERSHIP AND the local on-street TTC network. CONTACT INFORMATION SmartTrack duplicates RER lines, As the prime funders of rapid so how is it different? Though Mail and email addresses/phone: transit in Toronto, Metrolinx and the Transport Action Ontario, Box 6418, SmartTrack would have more local Province must sort this all out. These Sta. A, Toronto, ON M5W 1X3. stations than the usual GO rail line, Toronto-oriented transit projects have [email protected]. RER could carry a local service that major implications region-wide. Let’s Telephone: 416.504.3934 or toll free would serve the stations on the hope that Metrolinx is able to make long-distance 1.866.542.1067 or contact our SmartTrack route. Indeed, in a letter President, Peter Miasek, at 905.477.8636 or the sensible decisions that reflect the by email at [email protected]. to Toronto’s City Manager in October, need for higher order transit -- LRT on Metrolinx CEO Bruce McCuaig said Website: //transport-action-ontario.com dedicated right-of-way, subways, Join Transport Action to help us advocate quite clearly that Smart Track would electrified regional rail, etc. -- to form for sustainable transportation. By joining only be an incremental upgrade of GO an integrated network enhancing Transport Action Ontario, you also become a service, not a separate operation mobility across the whole of the member of Transport Action Canada. running on GO’s trackage. GTHA for everyone. ■ - Tony Turrittin Members receive Ontario Report as well as our There is one serious problem with national newsletter TransportAction. SmartTrack. It is now clear that an To join, send your name, address, Ontario Report is published by Transport telephone number, email address (if any), extension to the ACC will have to be in Action Ontario bi-monthly in Feb.,Apr., June, and membership fee to our box address tunnel or on viaduct, another several Aug., Oct. and Dec. Contributions of news and above. Our annual membership fees are: billion dollars. A much less costly items are welcome. Submissions, including introductory (1st year only) $20; regular extension of the Eglinton Crosstown articles and letters, are subject to acceptance and $35; senior $30; student $25; low income LRT to the ACC would actually be editing. Statements in this publication are those $20; family $50; non-profit affiliate $75; of the respective authors and are not official policy more useful to local residents. business $170. Transport Action Ontario is which is approved by the Board of Transport requesting a $10 supplement on a Where in all of his is the RL? The Action Ontario. Photos by the editor unless City and the TTC continue to study an membership for mailing a paper copy of its otherwise indicated. newsletter, Ontario Report. east side RL to the Danforth. Transport Action Canada is a registered Metrolinx still considers the RL Thanks to all who helped out with this issue. News to December 31, 2015. charity. Donations to it receive a tax-credit necessary to relieve the Yonge subway receipt. Its website address is line, especially because the plan is to Editor: Tony Turrittin ([email protected]). //www.transport-action.ca. extend it north into York Region. The ISSN 1923-1040 (Print) Board meetings: July 30, Sept 9, Oct 1, extension of the RL north to Sheppard ISSN 1923-1059 (Online) and Nov 5 at 5:30pm at Centre for Social is to be considered by Metrolinx. Innovation, 215 Spadina Ave., Toronto. If you wish to participate, contact Peter Miasek

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